Penn State's Jordan Stout named Big Ten punter of the year, several Lions on defensive All-Big Ten teams
Penn State’s Jordan Stout is the Big Ten’s punter of the year.
The Nittany Lion special teams everyman excelled in the punting game this season, punting 62 times for an average of 46.5 yards.
He improved considerably from last season — his first as Penn State’s punter — when he averaged 41.5 yards per punt.
The Nittany Lions ranked second in the nation in Football Outsiders’ punt efficiency metric this season behind only Cincinnati.
Stout’s excellence in the punt game certainly played a factor in Penn State’s elite defensive showing in the regular season. The Nittany Lions ranked 36th in the country in total defense but seventh in scoring defense.
Two Nittany Lions earn first-team honors
Penn State placed two players on the All-Big Ten first team on the defensive side of the ball.
Defensive end Arnold Ebiketie and safety Jaquan Brisker each earned a place on that prestigious list, honored by both the coaches and the media.
Ebiketie, a transfer from Temple this offseason, injected some much-needed pass rushing dynamism into Penn State’s front-seven.
The senior led the Big Ten this season with 17 tackles for loss and finished third in the conference with 9.5 sacks.
He also blocked a pair of kicks for good measure.
Pro Football Focus graded Ebiketie as the No. 10 edge rusher in the nation with at least 100 snaps to his name this season, and the No. 2 edge rusher in the Big Ten behind only Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, who finished the year with 13 sacks.
Brisker spent another season as Penn State’s field general in the secondary.
Renowned by his teammates for his ability to read the game and anticipate what’s coming, Brisker also proved to be a crucial presence defending the run for a second season in a row, registering 47 total tackles.
Opposing offenses targeted him 22 times in coverage this season, and Brisker surrendered only 12 receptions for 105 yards.
He came away with a pair of interceptions for a Penn State defense that vastly improved its turnover generation, and also forced a fumble.
Other Penn State players honored
Predictably for one of the best defenses in the conference, there were plenty of other Penn State players present on the all-conference lists.
Despite missing half of the season due to injury, defensive tackle PJ Mustipher earned a place on the second-team All-Big Ten list from the coaches.
He finished the year with 21 tackles, including three TFLs, to go with one sack.
Joining Mustipher on the coaches second-team is middle linebacker Ellis Brooks, who surprised many with an excellent showing in his senior season.
Brooks finished the regular season with 100 tackles to lead the team, including 3.5 TFLs and a sack.
A pair of Penn State’s players in the secondary were named third-team All-Big Ten.
Safety Ji’Ayir Brown was rewarded by coaches for his breakout season, in which he came down with four interceptions, including a pick-six against Maryland.
Joey Porter Jr. was also recognized by the coaches. He finished with 48 tackles and an interception this season.
Penn State LB Brandon Smith was also named to the All-Big Ten third team by the coaches. The athletic linebacker finished the season with 81 tackles, nine tackles for loss and two sacks.
The media named hybrid Jesse Luketa to the third team as well. Making the switch to defensive end for most of the season, Luketa totaled 52 tackles and 7.5 TFLs. He also registered a pick-six.
Cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields earned an honorable mention from both the coaches and the media, and linebacker Curtis Jacobs received an honorable mention from the media as well.
Here’s a full list breaking down Penn State’s defensive awards:
Arnold Ebiketie — first team coaches and media
Jaquan Brisker — first team coaches and media
Ellis Brooks — second team coaches and honorable mention media
PJ Mustipher — second team coaches and honorable mention media
Ji’Ayir Brown — third team coaches and honorable mention media
Brandon Smith — third team coaches and honorable mention media
Joey Porter Jr. — third team coaches and honorable mention media
Jesse Luketa — third team coaches and honorable mention media
Tariq Castro-Fields — honorable mention coaches and media
Curtis Jacobs — honorable mention media
On the special teams front, Jahan Dotson was also named the third-team punt returner by the coaches.
The Big Ten is set to announce its awards on the offensive side of the ball on Wednesday.
